Dirigible airship.



T. F. DUNN.

DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP. PPLIUATION FILED DEU.17 1910.

Patented 0015.24, 1911.

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C BIA PLANOGRAPH C0..WASHINOTON D c T. F. DUNN. DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP. APPLICATION FILED No.1?, 1910.

Patented Oct. 24, 1911.

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T. P. DUNN. DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP. APPLICATION FILED DE01?, 1910.

1,006,998u Patented Oct. 24, 1911.

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THOMAS F. DUNN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DIRIGIBLE AIRSI-IIP.

incense.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. ai, ieri.

Original application filed April 21, 1909, Serial No. 491,265. Divided and this application filed December` 17,

1910. Serial No. 597,835.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. DUNN, a citizen of the United States, and residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dirigible Airships, of which the following is a speciiication, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to dirigible air ships, and the object'thereof is to provide an improved machine of this class which involves an oblong tapered balloon or gas container of the usual form and which constitutes the chief carrying power, and which also involves a novel wind shield, gas magazines, cones giving variable speed and comechanism, and by which the propelling mechanism is stopped while the engine is running; and with these and other objects in view the invention consists in a dirigible air-ship constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

This application is a division of a prior application filed by me April 2l, 1909, Ser. #491,266, and the invention described and claimed herein is limited to the construction of the balloon or gas container, its attachments, and gas magazines in communication therewith, the propelling mechanism and other features of construction in connection therewith being claimed in the said prior application.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which Figure 1 is a side view of my improved air-ship, Fig. 2 a side view of my improved airship on an enlarged scale, Fig. 3 a bottom plan view of the same, parts of the construction being omitted, Fig. 4 an enlarged view in cross section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 an enlarged view in cross section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1 showing keel and gas magazines and manner of supporting gas magazines from keel, also manner of attaching cords of net to keel, Fig. 6 an enlarged plan view of the driving mechanism, parts of the construction being omitted, and Fig. 7 a side view of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrow w.

In the practice of my invention, I provide a balloon or gas container a which, in the form of construction shown, is tapered at both ends and from which is suspended a cage or car and the propelling and opw erating parts of the machine. The balloon or gas container a is provided with a net work of cords in the usual manner, and placed longitudinally of and beneath the balloon or gas container c is a T or keel bar c composed of a bottom or web member c2 and a top. member c3, both members being tapered from the middle portion thereof toward both ends and, in practice, the cords b are arranged diagonally in opposite directions around the balloon or gas body a as clearly shown in Figs. l and 2, and are connected with the top member c3 of the T-bar e and with the web portion of said bar as clearly shown in Fig. 4, and as indicated in Fig. 2, the alternate cords in each direction being alternately connected with the web member c2 of said bar and with the top member c3 thereof. It will be noticed, Fig. 5, that this manner of attaching the cords at nearly right angles on each side of the keel bar in connection with the cables e7 and braces e2 on the bottom, hereinafter described, serves to brace and reinforce the keel and keep it from buckling. The T-bar c extends approximately the full length of the balloon or gas container a, and in the form of construction shown, said bar is composed of two equal parts rigidly connected with a central transversely arranged boX or frame d the opposite side walls of which, or the front and back walls of which are concave so as to correspond with the shape of the-bottom of the balloon or gas container in cross section when said balloon or gas container is iniated, and the top portion c3 of the T-bar c is also concave in cross section. The box d is open at the top and bottom, and the balloon or gas container a is provided centrally of the bottom thereof with a neck a2, Figs. l, 2 and 7 which extends downwardly into said boX and through which the said balloon or gas container may be filled with the required gas, and the said neck may be closed when desired by an ordinary draw cord or in any preferred manner.

Extending along the bottom of the gas container for substantially its whole length, Figs. 2 and 4, one on each side, are the gas magazines 'n.1 and a2 supported by arms a3 which are attached to and project from the keel bar c. The top n4 and bottom 'a5 of the gas magazines are made of rigid or semi rigid material and the sides n of balloon cloth or other gas proof fiexible material which is made to fold up like a bellows when the magazines are empty. The bottoms of these magazines are fastened to the arms n3, and the tops thereof are hinged to them at the back, and the fronts thereof formed in the manner of a pair of bellows. Connected with and extending .from the bottom of the gas container or balloon to the top of the gas magazines are two or more iexible pipes or tubes a7 through which the gas may fiow freely from one into the other. On the bottom of each magazine are two or more hinged valves as that open outward, and these valves are kept closed by the springs n. which are tensioned so that the pressure of the gas when it reaches a certain point will overcome the power of the springs and open the valves to let out the gas if necessary.

Under ordinary circumstances, when a balloon enters warmer air the gas expands so that more or less of it has to be allowed to escape to prevent the balloon from burst ing, and when it enters colder air the gas contracts and ballast has to be thrown out to prevent descending. This has to be repeat ed until the gas or ballast is exhausted and the balloon has to land. lith my improvement, when the gas expands the pressure of the gas forces it through the pipes a7 into the magazines, and when the gas contracts and the pressure is reduced the weight of the cover of the magazines forces the gas back into the gas container or balloon. By this means the necessity of letting gas escape or throwing over ballast is obviated and the air-ship can remain longer in the air, make longer voyages and can carry more freight or passengers instead of the needless ballast.

On the front end of the gas container I put a wind shield a3 of rigid or semi rigid material in the form of a hollow cone, fitting over and around the front end of the gas container and extending outwardly beyond its sides and which is rigidly attached to the T or keel bar c by braces a4. By this means the main pressure of the air induced by the forward movement of the airship is borne by the wind shield and T-bar c and being made of rigid material it can be made more elongated and thus reduce the air pressure. I also provide a cage or car c which is rigidly connected with the box (Z and the T-bar c, and suspended therefrom by means of stays or braces c2 at each side of said cage or car and at each side of the box cl and T or keel bar c. Projecting from the bottom of the car e on each end and from each side at the center thereof are poles or axles et, on which are mounted wheels e0 similar to ordinary bicycle wheels, and which will form a support for the machine when resting on the ground, and permit of its being freely movable forwardly or backwardly or into any desired position. The axles are strengthened by the braces e5. Connected with the front and back ends of the cage or car e are cables e7 which are also connected with the extended end portions of the T-bar c as clearly shown in Fig. l, and said cables forma martingale and in connection with the stays or braces e2 serve to rigidly support the cage or car e and also brace and reinforce the Teloar c. I also provide a suitable gasolene or other motor 71. which, in the form of construction shown, is placed centrally in the cage or car e, and the shaft h2 of this motor is provided with a sprocket wheel 71.3 on which is mounted a drive chain h4 which also passes around a larger sprocket wheel 1o mounted on a main drive and cone shaft 8.

The frame Figs. 6 and 7, is rigidly suspended from the box Z and T-bar c by the braces 1 and 2, and stand bearings 2, t are attached to its sides. The stand bearings 2 have slotted bolt holes through which are passed pins or bolts connected with the lframe as shown at 11, and the bearings 4 are also provided with projecting lugs 6, and by means of bolts T which connect said lugs and the back of the frame, the stand bearings L may be drawn backwards of the frame so as to keep the cone belt J 9 hereinafter described tight. The back cone shaft 8 is mounted in the stand bearings 4, and the cone 9 and the sprocket wheel 1 are rigidly fastened to it. The front cone shaft J is mounted in the stands 3, and the part J2 of the cone J1 is rigidly fastened to it and sprocket wheels J t are rigidly attached one to each end thereof. The part J 2 of the cone J1 is arranged to answer the purposes of a loose pulley and brake wheel, and it is composed of the hub J 5, the spokes J 6, the part J 2 that is used for a loose pulley and the part J 8 that is used for a brake wheel, and when not in use it runs loose on the shaft. The front cone shaft J is driven from the back cone shaft 2 by the belt J 9 running on the cones 9 and J1, and when the belt is on the part J2 of the cone J1 which is rigidly attached to its shaft, it drives the machinery to propel the air-ship, and when the belt is shipped on to the part J 2 or loose pulley the propelling machinery is stopped and only the loose pulley and back cone shaft S and the engine are running.

A brake K' is pivoted in brake stand K1 rigidly attached to the frame so that it can swing back and forth and has a backwardly extending arm K2 which is slotted at its out-er end, and a screw shaft K3 is passed through it. The shaft K3 is threaded at its upper end to engage a nut K4, and a pin K5 projects upward into the nut from the arm K2 and prevents the nut from turning. A collar or shoulder KG is rigidly attached to the shaft K3 and bearing against the brake stand K1 keeps the shaft from rising. Then the shaft K3 is turned into the nut K4 it draws it down bringing the arm K2 of the brake with it thereby lifting the brake from the brake wheel, and when the shaft K3 is turned in the opposite direction it allows the nut and arm to be pressed upward by the spring KT and the brake to be applied to the brake wheel, and the shaft K3 is operated by means of a wheel KS.

It will be noticed that by means of the cones and cone belt J 9 al great variation o-f speed may be obtained and by shipping the belt on to the part J3 of the front coneas shown in Fig. 6 the propelling machinery may be stopped without stopping the engine.

Suspended from the box CZ are hangers f in which is mounted a main transverse shaft f2 the ends of which project well beyond the box d, and mounted on the end portions of said shaft are sleeves g1, g2 which are adapted to rotate on said shaft and which are kept in place on said shaft by collars Q7. rlhe sleeves g1, g2 are provided with beveled gear wheels g5 and g6 on their outer ends and with sprocket wheels g3 and gt on their inner ends, and to lessen friction the sleeves g1, g2 bear on the shaft f2 at their ends only. The sprocket wheels J t on the ends of the cone shaft J drive the sprocket wheels g3 and g4 by means of the drive chains J1".

To the outer ends of the shaft f2 are rigidly attached at right angles thereto supplementary shafts 71,l which by turning the shaft f2 are made to revolve around its axis and beveled gears 7x5 are mounted on and revolve on the supplementary shafts 71,1, and

propellers 71,7 that propel the air ship are rigidly attached to the hubs of these gears. A worm gear f2 is fastened on the middle of the shaft f2 and is operated by a worm ft which is supported by a brace f5 attached to the box 7. The worm f4 is provided with a downwardly projecting shaft g12 on the lower lend of which is attached a wheel gli by means of which it may be turned, and by means of the worm gear f3 and worm f4 in connection with the shaft g12, the shaft f2 can be turned in either direction and is at all times held securely locked in the position it is turned to. The supplementary shafts tl have sleeves h which fit over the ends of the shaft f2 and by means of which they are fastened to it, and said supplementary shafts are also provided with projecting shoulders h5 extending around their circumference and which act as bearings for the hubs of the gears 7L5, and the ends of said shafts are threaded to engage nuts 7b2 which keep the gears and propellers on said shafts.

The front end of the frame z' is provided with a hanger o to which is pivoted at 02 a shipping lever 03 which ranges backwardly and the free end 04 of which is supported in a transverse stirrup 05 the bottom of which is provided with pins `0G between which the lever 03 is adapted to rest. The lever 03 is provided centrally thereof with upwardly directed fingers 0T which straddle the belt J 9, and by means of this construction, by manipulating the lever 03 the said belt may be lifted from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6 to the position shown in dotted lines in said ligure and back again whenever desired, or said belt may be shifted on the driving cone 9 and the part J2 of the cone J into any desired position so as to increase or decrease the speed of the shaft J2 and the propellers 72,7 as will be readily understood.

Toward the rear end of the ship is piv oted a rudder or steering shaft s2 provided with a rudder or steering device s3, and the shaft s2 is provided with laterally directed arms s4 with which is connected a cord or cords 35 which are carried forwardly and passed around a grooved hand wheel s mounted on or connected with the cage or car c, and by manipulating the cord or cords $5 the rudder or steering device may be manipulated as will be readily understood to control the movement of the machine horizontally or forwardly or backwardly.

With my improved air-ship construction, as herein shown and described, it will be seen that the center of gravity of the apparatus taken as a whole will be approximately under the transverse shaft f2, and said shaft is arranged transversely of the middle of the balloon or gas container, and the keel or T- bar o, and this serves to perfectly balance the machine at all times.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen, that the T-bar c forms a keel for the balloon or .gas container a and tends to hold the same in proper form and to make said balloon or gas container steady in the operation of the machine, and the said T-bar and cage or car e being rigidly connected in the manner described and braced and stayed by the martingales e7 and the braces and stays e2 are made rigid and firm and the operation of the machine and especially the propelling mechanism as hereinafter described made possible, and the parts thereof held in proper condition without danger of displacement or breakage in actual use.

rlhe operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings andthe following statement thereof. With the propellers 71.7 in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the machine will be propelled forwardly or backed as will be readily understood, but by turning the gear f4 by means of the shaft g connected therewith the supplemental shafts /Ll which carry the propellers 7L? may be turned so that the propellers 7L? will be in and revolve in a horizontal plane as shown in dot-ted lines in Fig. 7, and with the propellers in this position the machine may be raised or lowered as will be readily understood.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, the shafts /Ll are secured to the shaft f2 in the same position and project in the same direction, and with this construction the propellers LT revolve in opposite directions, and this aids in balancing the machine and the operation thereof.

It may sometimes be necessary or desirable for testing or other purposes to stop the machinery of the propelling mechanism without stopping the motor, and in order to do this, the cone belt J0 is shifted into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. G, or onto t-he part J3 of the cone J1, which part operates as a loose pulley and brake wheel, and when said belt is in this position the brake K may be applied to the brake wheel so as to give the motor the same load that it would have if the propelling mechanism were in operation, and this will prevent the engine from running free or racing, and the propelling mechanism may be again thrown into operation by shift-ing belt J9 back into the position shown in full lines in Fig. G and releasing the brake K.

I-Iaving fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a dirigible airship, a balloon or gas container which is oblong in form and the front end of which is tapered, said balloon or gas container being provided with a T or keel bar which extends approximately the full length thereof, and which is secured thereto, a car suspended from said T or keel bar and rigidly connected therewith, and a conical wind shield which is tted to the tapered front end of the balloon or gas container, and which is secured to said keel bar.

2. In a dirigible airship, a balloon or gas container, and folding gas magazines sup- Kported longitudinally of the bottom thereof, and in communication therewith, said gas magazines being provided with one or more automat-ic safety valves, which are opened outwardly by the pressure of the gas when it reaches a. certain point and closed when the pressure is reduced.

3. In a dirigible air-ship, a balloon or gas container which is oblong in form, and provided with a T or keel bar which is secured thereto and extends approximately the full lengt-h thereof, a car suspended from said AT or keel bar and rigidly connected therewith, and expansible and contractible gas magazines placed beneath said balloon or gas container, and on supports connected with said keel bar and in communication with said balloon or gas container, said magazines being provided with automatic safety valves which open outwardly.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of the subscribing witnesses this 15th day of December 1910.

THOMAS F. DUNN.

Vitnesses C. E. MULREANY, J. BARTLETT.

Copies or' this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

